1.1.2 Use prior and background knowledge as context for new learning.
1.1.6 Read, view, and listen for information presented in any format (e.g., textual, visual, media, digital)
in order to make inferences and gather meaning
3.1.3 Use writing and speaking skills to communicate new understandings effectively.
4.1.3 Respond to literature and creative expressions of ideas in various formats and genres.
4.1.5 Connect ideas to own interests and previous knowledge and experience.
Common Core
CC6-8WH/SS/S/TS4 Produce clear and coherent writing in which the development, organization, and style are appropriate to task, purpose, and audience.
VOCABULARY
Enigmatic:Difficult to interpret or understand; mysterious (enigma: mystery)
Surreal: having the disorienting quality of a dream; unreal; fantastic (surreal: “sur”= “above”; “above, or beyond, what is considered real”)
In 1984 Chris Van Allsburg introduced an enigmatic book called The Mysteries of Harris Burdick.
It was a collection of 14 enigmatic pictures. The pictures were a little unsettling, a little surreal, and a little weird.
There were supposed to be stories that went with these pictures. The stories were lost. The only things remaining were the pictures, the title, and one line from the middle of the story.
Then, in 2011, Chris Van Allsburg got 14 very famous writers to write the stories that he hinted about with the amazing pictures in Harris Burdick. The new book is called The Chronicles of Harris Burdick.
The authors include Jon Scieszka, Kate DiCamillo, Louis Sachar, Stephen King, and Chris Van Allsburg himself, among other very famous writers.
Here's your assignment:
1) You'll watch a power point showing you all of the pictures in the original Mysteries of Harris Burdick book;
2) You'll choose one picture to write your own story (or part of a story) about.
3) You will copy down the picture/story's title and the prompt sentence.
4) You will write one paragraph of the story, using the one sentence as a writing prompt.
5) The paragraph needs to be in the middle of the story; not the beginning (way too hard) and not the end (way too challenging). In the middle you can set up suspense and make the reader want more!
6) After you have written your paragraph, I will share some of the stories from the Chronicles of Harris Burdick book, the one that just came out, and you can compare your writing with some of the best authors around.
Here is a shortened power point if you need to refer to the prompt, the story title and the picture:
Mysteries of Harris Burdick Project
1.1.6 Read, view, and listen for information presented in any format (e.g., textual, visual, media, digital)
in order to make inferences and gather meaning
3.1.3 Use writing and speaking skills to communicate new understandings effectively.
4.1.3 Respond to literature and creative expressions of ideas in various formats and genres.
4.1.5 Connect ideas to own interests and previous knowledge and experience.
In 1984 Chris Van Allsburg introduced an enigmatic book called The Mysteries of Harris Burdick.
It was a collection of 14 enigmatic pictures. The pictures were a little unsettling, a little surreal, and a little weird.
There were supposed to be stories that went with these pictures. The stories were lost. The only things remaining were the pictures, the title, and one line from the middle of the story.
Then, in 2011, Chris Van Allsburg got 14 very famous writers to write the stories that he hinted about with the amazing pictures in Harris Burdick. The new book is called The Chronicles of Harris Burdick.
The authors include Jon Scieszka, Kate DiCamillo, Louis Sachar, Stephen King, and Chris Van Allsburg himself, among other very famous writers.
Here's your assignment:
1) You'll watch a power point showing you all of the pictures in the original Mysteries of Harris Burdick book;
2) You'll choose one picture to write your own story (or part of a story) about.
3) You will copy down the picture/story's title and the prompt sentence.
4) You will write one paragraph of the story, using the one sentence as a writing prompt.
5) The paragraph needs to be in the middle of the story; not the beginning (way too hard) and not the end (way too challenging). In the middle you can set up suspense and make the reader want more!
6) After you have written your paragraph, I will share some of the stories from the Chronicles of Harris Burdick book, the one that just came out, and you can compare your writing with some of the best authors around.
Here is a shortened power point if you need to refer to the prompt, the story title and the picture:
I have to be honest: I really prefer this assignment to be handwritten.
However, if you have to type this paragraph, here's an easy link to a google form that you can use:
https://docs.google.com/spreadsheet/viewform?formkey=dDI2OW1ieGE5SVlKT2lhMTh5QUhMT2c6MQ#gid=0Here is your rubric for your assignment: